Page 36 - 2020 Angels Media Guide

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ERIC MUNSON assistant certified
athletic trainer
Eric Munson, 40, joined the Angels Major League Athletic Training
Staff in 2017 as an Assistant Athletic Trainer. He spent seven
seasons with the Angels' affiliates and served as the Minor League
Rehabilitation Coordinator for five years prior to joining the big league
club.
Munson served as the head athletic trainer in Double-A Arkansas
(2008-10), Single-A Rancho Cucamonga (2007), Single-A Cedar Rapids
(2005-06, 2011) and has served as the Angels Minor League Rehab
Coordinator based in Tempe (2012-16). Prior to joining the Angels
organization, he worked as the Head Athletic Trainer and Strength & Conditioning Coach
for the Cedar Rapids Roughriders for the 2004-05 season as part of the United States
Hockey League.
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A native of Kenmare, ND, Munson, received his Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic
Training from North Dakota State University in 2004. Eric, his wife, Leslie, and daughter,
Nora, reside in Arizona.
athletic training
RICK SMITH services coordinator
Rick Smith begins his 45th season with the organization, 43rd at the
big league level. Smith enters his fourth campaign in his role after
39 years as an Angels Certified Athletic Trainer. Smith previously
served as the Head Athletic Trainer for the El Paso Diablos, an Angels'
Double-A affiliate, before moving to the Major Leagues in 1978.
On August 3, 2002, Smith was honored in a pregame ceremony for
his 25 years of service with the Angels. He has served as an American
League Athletic Trainer for the All-Star Games in 1984, 1989 and 1997.
Smith was also an integral part of the group honored with the Major
League Athletic Training Staff of the Year Award for the 1998 season. The award is voted on
by the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS).
The El Paso, TX native was inducted into the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame on November 6,
2007 as part of the 20-year anniversary of the Hall of Fame. Former Angels Larry “Moose”
Stubing, Ken Schrom and Jack Harris are also members of the El Paso Hall of Fame.
Smith began his career as a Student Athletic Trainer for the University of Texas-
El Paso athletic teams from 1971 until graduating in 1975. He is a member of
the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS), National Athletic
Trainers’ Association (NATA) and the California and Texas State Trainers
Associations. Smith is a regular supporter of the Child Abuse Prevention Center in
Orange, CA .
Smith, 67, attended Eastwood High School in El Paso, TX. He and his wife, Janell, have one
son, Karcher, and reside in Santa Ana, CA. The family welcomed grandson, Rocco, in 2017.

rick smith by the numbers

Some interesting figures during Rick
Smith’s tenure with the Angels...
809 - Number of Angels players
16 - Number of Angels managers
73 - Number of Angels coaches
Smith has worked approx. 7,500 games in his career
(includes spring training, regular season and playoffs)

35 2020 ANGELS MEDIA GUIDE